Curious to know just how strong he had become, Leo tapped the 'Attribute' icon on the glowing interface. [Strength: 2000 kg] [Speed: 20 m/s] [Defense: 2000 kg] The numbers told the whole story. His current power was roughly equivalent to that of a level one martial warrior. In this world, aspiring fighters honed their bodies with combat arts and genetic serums, pushing themselves to astonishing physical limits even before challenging the tower. A talented fighter could develop a thousand kilograms of raw strength, but the moment they officially became a level one martial warrior, that strength instantly doubled. A top-tier level one martial warrior possessed a base strength of two thousand kilograms. Leo, having just woken from a two-year coma, had already reached that benchmark. That alone proved one thing: his original strength, before cultivation, had been nowhere near a thousand kilograms. His breakthrough to level one must have multiplied his foundation far beyond the norm. The exact mechanics would have to wait until he reached level two. Leo let out a long breath, considering his next move. Twenty-five days remained until the Ascension Tower trial—enough time to grow stronger. But raw power was useless without control. For that, he would practice the basic sword technique. His room was spacious enough for practice, and for now, he craved solitude. Though there was a proper training ground outside, he had no desire to see or speak to anyone. All he wanted was strength. And after that, he wanted to find his father and restore his family's happiness. In his past life, he'd never known the warmth of a parent's embrace—only betrayal. But here, he had a mother who genuinely loved him, a gift he cherished more than words could say. Leo scanned the room for a sword, but there was none. With a sigh, he opened the door. Two maids stood guard outside, as always. "Could one of you please bring me a training sword?" Leo asked politely. "Of course, Young Master. But are you sure you should be training? Your body is still recovering," one maid said, her voice filled with genuine concern. Both maids had looked after him for the past two years. They had naturally grown to care for him deeply. "I'll be fine. Please, bring me the sword," Leo replied with a reassuring smile. At his insistence, one of the maids retrieved a simple wooden sword from her storage ring and offered it to him. "Thank you." Leo accepted it and closed the door. He had to learn control, lest he become like a child with a giant's strength, crushing everything he touched. He steadied his breathing and began his practice. "Slash. Chop. Thrust." Each movement echoed with a sharp cut of air. Rumor held that mastering the basic sword technique to the ninth level could awaken one's Blade Focus, though no such achievement had ever been recorded. Most martial artists abandoned the fundamentals as soon as they could access more advanced techniques, leaving the true limits of the basics untested. Three hours passed before a knock sounded on his door. Leo opened it. His mother stood in the doorway, her expression a mixture of worry and faint anger. "Why are you pushing yourself so hard?" she chided, though her voice was soft. The maids must have heard the continuous thud of his training and informed her. Leo scratched his cheek awkwardly. He'd been so focused he had completely lost track of time. "Sorry, Mom. The doctor said light exercise was okay. I didn't mean to overdo it. I'll be more careful." Her expression softened at his apology. "Go take a shower. I'll have food sent to your room." She didn't examine him too closely, or else she might have noticed the subtle changes already taking hold of his physique. "Alright, Mom," Leo said with a bright smile before heading to the bathroom. Sarah turned to leave, her voice carrying a cold edge as she spoke to the maids. "If anyone dares to bully him, inform me immediately." Leo stepped into the shower, letting the cold water wash away the sweat and fatigue. His entire body relaxed instantly. It also occurred to him that he hadn't checked his system once during the three-hour session. [Ascension Base: 5000/5000 (+17700)] A 'Breakthrough' button was now available. Leo tapped it without hesitation. A wave of power surged through him. [Breakthrough to level 2] [Ascension Base: 10000/10000 (+12656)] Before initiating the next one, he checked his new attributes. [Strength: 4000 kg] [Speed: 25 m/s] [Defense: 4000 kg] His strength and defense had doubled again. A standard level two martial warrior normally had a strength of only around three thousand kilograms. His own cultivation system was clearly far superior to the conventional martial path of this world. He pressed the breakthrough button again. [Breakthrough to level 3] [Ascension Base: 20000/20000 (+2700)] New attributes appeared. [Strength: 6500 kg] [Speed: 30 m/s] [Defense: 6500 kg] Another two thousand five hundred kilograms of strength. The gains were increasing. He broke through once more. [Ascension Level: 4] [Ascension Base: 22713/40000] [Strength: 9500 kg] [Speed: 35 m/s] [Defense: 9500 kg] He was now comparable to a level nine martial warrior—only slightly inferior, in fact. And he had done it in a mere three hours. It was a feat that countless less-talented individuals might spend months, or even years, striving for. Leo couldn't stop the smile forming on his lips. "I'm going to crush the Ascension Tower." Reaching the sixtieth stair required at least a thousand kilograms of strength. The seventieth demanded fifteen hundred, plus immense mental fortitude. And the ninetieth stair? Only one or two people in the entire history of the world had ever reached it. The strength required was a top-level secret. But Leo was certain of one thing: even those legendary monsters couldn't have matched a level nine martial warrior's raw physical power when they made their own ascents. His only concern now was his mental power. Climbing the tower required both physical and spiritual strength. "I need to find a technique to strengthen my mind," Leo thought, stepping out of the shower. A tray of food was already waiting on his table. He ate while glancing at his status. [Name: Leo Sullivan] [Ascension Talent: Pseudo] [Ascension Level: 4] [Ascension Base: 22800/40000] [Energy Absorption: 4/s] His energy absorption rate had increased with each breakthrough. Better still, his cultivation base didn't reset after leveling up but continued to build. It was a direct measure of his current energy reserves. At this rate, he would be ready for another breakthrough in about seventy-five minutes. He still wasn't sure if the system was drawing energy from the Astral Shard or from the environment itself. "Well, who cares? Time for sleep. I'll train properly in the morning." His power had grown too quickly. He needed time to adapt. He finished his meal and went straight to bed. Besides, if he kept practicing, his mother would only worry and scold him again. The Next Morning Leo woke feeling completely refreshed. He immediately checked his panel. [Ascension Base: 40000/40000 (+10000)] "Breakthrough." That confirmed his suspicion. The system had to be drawing from the Astral Shard. If it were pulling from the environment, his energy reserve would have increased by far more than ten thousand units over an eight-hour sleep. The crystal's total capacity, it seemed, was fifty thousand units. He pressed the breakthrough option. An overwhelming surge of power flooded his body. [Ascension Level: 5] [Strength: 13000 kg] [Speed: 40 m/s] [Defense: 13000 kg]

Chapter 3: Awakening To Power